The study, which was conducted on behalf of the German Embassy in Washington by Frank N. Magid Associates, Inc. in late 2013, took a nationally representative sample to determine how Americans perceive Germany and the Germans. The survey included a vast set of questions covering every aspect from bilateral relations to Germany’s role in Europe. The results show that Germany continues to be hailed as one of the most important partners of the United States and is being regarded as a leader in Europe.

People's personal ties to Germany make a positive difference and reinforce the outstanding results: 88 percent (that’s twenty-nine percent up from the national sample), of Americans who once lived in Germany for more than 6 months, have a positive impression of the country. The same applies to those with a higher level of education: 69 percent of college students see Germany in a favorable light.

In today’s multipolar world with many interests and changing alliances Germany stands out as the top non-English-speaking country that shares common values with the US. It steadily continues to be regarded as the third-most important international partner of the US.

Germany’s presence in Europe was highlighted as being particularly successful, and only growing in importance: Americans describe Germany’s presence as stable, constructive and collaborative.

Additionally, 53 percent believe Germany’s role in Europe has strengthened over the past few years and 51 percent are expecting Germany to assume a leading role. Out of all countries, Germany was also chosen as the best suited to lead Europe out of its debt crisis, followed by Great Britain and the US. A question on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) brought encouraging results: Though the negotiations between the EU and the US are still in their early phases, informed Americans overwhelmingly support a deal. Forty-two percent of respondents believe a TTIP partnership is in the best interest of the US (only 6 percent disagreed, and the remainder chose not to answer the question or picked a neutral stance).

The numbers reinforce the feelings expressed by US and German political leaders over the past few years: "[Germany] is unquestionably one of our strongest most vibrant alliances in the world," Secretary of State John Kerry said in 2013.

The results also point to a growing trend in which Americans are picking up interest in German life, culture, history and research: 51 percent of American survey respondents believe the U.S. media does not provide enough information about Germany, and more than half of all Americans would like to learn more about modern life in Germany, science and history. Overall, the study reinforced the fact that most Americans view Germany in a positive light, and US interest in Germany – whether in tourism or history – remains particularly high.

Survey Highlights

59 percent of Americans have an excellent or good impression of Germany (only 6 percent have a negative impression).

60 percent of Americans believe Germany is a modern and forward-thinking society (5 percent disagree).

Survey: Perceptions of Germany and the Germans Among the US Population

The survey was conducted on behalf of the German Embassy in Washington, DC, by Frank N. Magid Associates, Inc. in late 2013 to determine how Americans perceive Germany and the Germans. The survey included a vast set of questions covering every aspect from bilateral relations to Germany’s role in Europe. The results show that Germany continues to be hailed as one of the most important partners of the United States and is being regarded as a leader in Europe.